Friday, February 28, 2014

Author Interview with Sharon Draper!

The DMS was lucky enough to interviewSharon Draper. Lizzy reviewed her book Out of My Mind,and we are excited to learn more about this story. So, without further ado... take it away, Sharon!

What
inspired you to write Out of My Mind?

What
if you were brilliant but could not communicate? I've often wondered about
what's really going on in the mind of a person who cannot share their thoughts.
I have a pretty good idea, because I have a daughter who is disabled. I'm
pretty sure she's really smart, but I'm her mom--of course I'd want to believe
that. So I created Melody-not as a portrait of my daughter, but as a character
who is truly her own being. The story of Melody is fictional, of course, but is
based on the reality of thousands of intelligent children and adults who are
trapped inside uncooperative bodies.When a fictional character is created, the author has the power to allow
any dreams to be achieved, and to allow triumphs as well as tragedies to
occur.Melody has spunk and
determination, and a great sense of humor. She has dreams and hopes like we all
do.

How
long did it take you to write Out of My Mind?

About three years, with
maybe twenty or thirty edits.Revision is the hardest part of writing!

What
was your inspiration for the character Mrs. V?

Everyone
needs a mentor, a life coach, someone to champion them on to success. Mrs. V
fills that role in the novel. Sometimes it's hard for parents to give their
children everything that is needed in life. Mrs. V is that person who goes
above and beyond what is required of her because she sees potential in Melody,
and because she loves her. We all could use a Mrs. V in our lives.

What
are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors
who inspired you?

When I was a child I read
voraciously.So I read ALL the
Little House on the Prairies books, ALL the Little Women books, ALL the books
of every writer that piqued my interest.So I don’t have a favorite.I think all of them combined to create in me an appreciation of words,
an ability to evaluate quality of expression, a love of storytelling.I honor them all, and thank them for
challenging me to create my own words.I hope my stories do the same to the next generation of young writers.

If
you could live anyplace real or fictional, where would it be? Why?

I love going to Florida to
visit the ocean, but I think I prefer a place like Ohio where the seasons
change.I love the soft colors of
spring, the bright sunshine of summer, the golds and bronzes of autumn, and the
silken white beauty of winter.I like
watching the seasons change. It
makes me happy.

If
you could befriend a character from one of your books, who would you befriend?
Why?

I think I’d like to meet
Miss Ginger from Panic.She loves
music and dance, and understands their power.She is a strong positive influence on the young people in her care.

Music
is important to Melody. Who are some of your favorite artists? Do you
like to listen to music while you write? If so, what do you listen to?

Melody
can "hear" colors, and "taste" music. The artistic side of
her shows a deep understanding of the necessary mingling of art and music to
create words and images and ideas. Melody's love for music helps her, even
soothes her when her life gets too overwhelming. Music gives her expression in
a world where she is unable to express almost everything.Me, I play the piano a little, but mostly
I love listening to music—classical, jazz, the blues, and country!I need silence while I write,
however.Strange, but true.

You
write books in a variety of different genres. Is there a genre that you prefer?
Or is there a way you decide which genre you are going to write next?

I usually decide on the
genre when an idea comes to me.Copper Sun came from a trip I made to Africa, and I felt I need to tell
the story of those who had been taken from there against their will, so of
course it was historical fiction.Most of my books fall into the realm of realistic fiction.I don’t do fantasy.I like reading it, but I don’t choose
to write it.If ever I really meet
a vampire or a zombie, however, then I’ll write that book!

Are
you currently working on a book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes, I’m working on two new
books. The sequel to Panic, which
is for older teens, and another middle grade fiction book. It’s historical fiction and is very
different from anything I’ve written yet. It’s based on a diary left by my grandmother.

22 comments:

What a great topic for Sharon to tackle and it sounds like she had a lot of insight into what she chose to write about. I've often wondered how those with capable minds and unwilling body's cope. She is so right about revisions being the hardest part of writing. Great Interview!

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